Intel Tease Arc Alchemist Desktop Graphics Card at Show Event!

I always feel it somewhat necessary to point out that based on comments Intel themselves made back in February, their Arc Alchemist graphics cards should be available to purchase (in one form or another) right now. Admittedly, what they actually said was that their laptop versions would drop first with their dedicated desktop variants coming before the end of Q2. – With Q2 having less than 25 days to go, with neither technically in sight, however, let’s just say that if they are sticking with this timeline, things are getting cut exceptionally fine!

Following a post by Twitter user ‘@theBryceIsRt‘, there is some hope for their desktop versions. Why? Well, as part of their IEM event (Intel Extreme Masters), which is underway right now, an unknown desktop Arc graphics card is currently on display!

Intel Arc Desktop Graphics Card

While the images are certainly interesting, there are still factors that make it a bit frustrating. Firstly, this isn’t inside a PC running gaming benchmarks impressing us with its performance. It is, instead, in a glass cabinet… Slowly rotating… Yippee… – It even has the input ports on the bottom so we don’t even know exactly what kind of configuration this might offer (in terms of USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, etc).

On the plus side, however, the image does at least show us a pretty attractive reference design. And more so, the fact that it would seem that Intel isn’t seemingly planning to adopt the new 12-pin PCIe5 power connection standard with the graphics card pictured here using the more traditional standard 8 & 6-pin PCIe configuration instead.

Release Date Ahoy?!

While this is, of course, positive stuff (you know, to actually see an Arc graphics card on display) it does still beg the question as to exactly when they’ll be released. And in this regard, there is some potentially good news. Following a separate report via Videocardz, Arc Alchemist laptop pre-orders have finally opened up across many regions including New Zealand, North America, and Australia.

Why is this important? Well, as noted above, Intel has always maintained that laptops would represent the debut platform and with these now open to order, it does seem to confirm that Arc mobile is coming, and more so, the desktop variants shouldn’t be too far behind!

Sadly none of these laptop models suggest any specific release dates, but all going well, and after a much more substantial wait than any of us might’ve expected, Arc (I promise you) is on the horizon!

What do you think? – Let us know in the comments!